Apparatus for advancing material



July 20, 1954 Filed Dec. 14, 1951 FIG! G. P. ADAMS ET AL 2,684,148

APPARATUS FOR ADVANCING MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet l I4 I 25 l l sa 2a INVENTORS A DA M S G. F? S. MM RTIN BY:

ATTORNEY Jul 20, 1954 G. P. ADAMS ET AL APPARATUS FOR ADVANCING MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 14, 1951 FIGS INVENTORS GRADAMS BY: SM. ARTIN Patented July 20, 1954 APPARATUS FOR ADVANCING MATERIAL George P. Adams, Baltimore, and Samuel M. Martin, Lutherville, Md., assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 14, 1951, Serial No. 261,711

6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for advancing material, and has for an object thereof the provision of new and improved apparatus for advancing material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for conveying plastic materials.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for conveying powdered or granulated plastic materials from a. plasticizing mixer, dividing the material in equal portions and conveying the divided material to pigmenting mixers.

In accordance with an apparatus illustrating certain features of the invention, there may be provided a main guideway along which granular material may be passed from one end toward the other end. The guideway has a slot positioned in the bottom thereof intermediate the ends thereof over a branch guideway. The material drops through the slot as long as the material in the branch guideway is conveyed away from the slot. Means may be provided for preventing movement of the material away from the slot so that the material piles up and closes the slot, after which the material is conveyed along the main guideway. If desired, the main guideway may be provided with a second slot and a second branch guideway positioned below the second slot. The operation of the two branch guideways may be so controlled that the material delivered to each is equal to that delivered to the other.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of an apparatus forming a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of an apparatus forming one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with portions there of broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section 4-4 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a control circuit of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a mixer 1, which continuously mixes together the ingredients of a compound, such as, for example, a plastic compound in which the essential plastic ingredient is polyvinyl chloride or a copolymer of vinyl acetate and vinyl chloride, and delivers the material continuously taken along line to the lefthand end of a main channel-like conveyor trough 8, as viewed in Fig. 1. The trough 8 may be provided with a cover, if desired. The trough 8 is supported by vibrating devices 9-9 of a well-known type, which, when operated, vibrate the trough 8 to advance the plastic material continuously to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, toward slots 1 I and I2 extending completely across the bottom of the trough 8. All the material advanced along the trough 8 is dropped through the slot H and a spout I 3 aligned with the slot I! to a branch conveyor trough 14 until the material piles up in the trough M to the top of the slot 1 I, after which the material is advanced over and past the slot 1 l to the slot l2 and discharges through the slot 12 into a branch conveyor trough !5 through a spout l5 positioned directly below the slot 12. The spouts are flexible, being composed of a resilient Neoprene or rubber compound, and project through enlarged openings 58 and I9 in the troughs M and IS without contact with these troughs. Thus, the spout l3 damps vibrations from the trough 8 to the material in the trough l4, and leakage from the trough 8 to the trough I4 is prevented.

Vibrating units 2| and 22 vibrate the branch troughs l4 and IE to advance the plastic material from under the slots II and I2 to the discharge ends of the branch troughs l4 and 15, which discharge into weigh pans 24 and 25, respectively. The weigh pan. 24 is operable by a vibrating unit 26 to discharge material weighed therein into a mixer 21, in which pigment may be interspersed into the plasticized plastic material. The weigh pan 25 is designed to be emptied into a mixer 28 for pigmenting by a vibrating unit 29. The weigh pans 24 and 25 are suspended by balance arms 30 and 3! of a well-known type. The balances are provided with tare switches of a well-known type, which are actuated when the pans are emptied, and other switches which are actuated when the pans have therein amounts of material which they are designed to weigh.

A control circuit for the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, is shown in Fig. 5, and includes a manually operable switch 4% and a power line 4!. When the switch 40 is closed, assuming that the pan 25 has just been filled with the proper amount of plastic material and the weigh pan 24 is empty, a tare switch 45, which is actuated by the balance arm 30 when the weigh pan 24 is empty, is closed, and a relay winding 42 of a relay 43 is energized to close contacts 4] and 48. Closing of the contact 48 completes a circuit from a conductor 49 to one side of the power line 4i through a contact ISI and a winding 50 of a relay 5I to close contacts 52, 53 and 54. Closing of the contact 54 closes a relay winding 51 of a ratchet relay 58 to be energized through the contact 54 and the contact 59. The relay 58 is of a ratchet type of well-known construction, and upon deenergization of the winding 51 after'it has been energized, serves to reverse the position of contacts 60 and 6|. Thus, whenever, the relay winding 51 is next deenergized, the contact '35 is opened and contact 68 is closed.

The closing of the contact 52 of the relay 5I completes a circuit across the power line to a winding 65 through a rectifier 66 and a rheostat 81, and an alternating current supplied-by the power line 4! is changed to pulsating direct current by the rectifier 88. This pulsating direct current energizes and deenergizes the winding 65, which is the operating element of a vibrating unit 88 serving to vibrate the branch trough I4 to feed material from the slot I I to the pan 24 at a rate faster than at which the trough 8 feeds the material to the slot I I. Thus, the material accumulated in the spout I3 under the slot II drops therefrom and all the material coming along the trough 8 is dropped through the slot II. As the pan 24 receives the material, the tare switch 45 is opened thereby to drop out the relay 43.

When the pan 24 receives sufficient plastic material to swing the balance arm 30, a switch I is closed thereby to energize a winding II of a relay 12. This closes contacts 13, I4 and I5. Closing of the contact 15 completes a circuit through a relay winding I6 of a relay TI to open the contact 59 and a contact 18 in series with the vibrating unit winding 65 to stop advancement of the plastic material along the trough I4 to the weigh pan 24. The opening of the contact 59 breaks the circuit to the winding 51 of the ratchet relay 58. The deenergization of the winding 51 causes the contact 60 to close and the contact 6| to open. Opening of the contact 6 I prevents energization of the drive of the branch trough I4 until the relay winding 51 has been again energized and deenergized to again reverse the condition of the contacts 68 and BI. The relay I! also closes a contact 29 thereof, which closes a circuit across the power line to a winding 80 of the vibrating unit 26 attached to the weigh pan 24 for discharging the material from the pan 24. The winding 85 is in series with a control rheostat 85 and a rectifier 85, which causes it to be energized with pulsating direct current.

A winding 8| of a time delay relay 82 having a normally closedcontact 83 is in series with the contacts 41, I4 and 83 across the power line M. The contact 83 also is interposed betweenone of the conductors of the power line and the contacts I3, 53, SI, the tare switch 45 and the contact I so that, whenever the contacts 41 and T4 are closed simultaneously to energize the winding 8I momentarily and open the contact 83, the portion of the circuit in series with the contact 83 is reset.

When the contact 60 is closed and the weigh pan 25 is empty, a tare switch 90, operable by the weigh pan 25 when completely empty, is closed to complete the circuit across the power line to a winding SI of a relay 92. This closes contacts 93 and 84. Closure of the contact 94 completes the circuit across the power line through the contact an and a contact 94 and a relay winding 91 of a relay 98. The relay 98 closes contacts 99, I88 and IGI thereof. Closing of the contact 99 completes a circuit across the power line to a winding I05 of the vibrating unit 22. operating the branch trough I5, and the branch trough i5 is vibrated to feed plastic material from the slot I2 to the weigh pan 25. A rectifier IE8 and a rheostat I01 are in series with the winding I85, and a normally closed contact I88 also is in series therewith.

As soon as the first minute quantity of the plastic material is dropped from the trough :5 into the weigh pan 25, the switch 90 is opened to drop out the relay 92. This opens the contact 5, but the holding contact I 00 of the relay 88 main tains the winding 91 in energized condition. As soon as the weigh pan 25 receives the exact quantity desired, the balance arm 3! closes a switch III) to cause energization of a relay winding ill of a relay II2, which closes contacts I13, H4 and II5, the contact II4 being a holding contact. Closing of the contact II5 completes the circuit across the power line to a winding I25; of a relay I2 I, and the relay I2l opens the contact I08 thereof to stop the vibrating unit 22 of the trough I5, opens the contact I22, and closes the contact I23. Closing of the contact I23 completes the circuit across the power line to a winding I24 of the vibrating unit 29 associated with the weigh pan 25 to discharging plastic material from the Weigh pan 25 to the mixer 28. A rectifier I25 and a rheostat I26 are connected in series with the winding I24, and the rectifier provides pulsating direct current for energizing and deenergizing the winding I24. A winding I30 of a time delay relay I33 is connected in series with the contacts 83 and 2 E3 and a contact I32. After the winding I38 has been energized for a predetermined period of time, it opens momentarily the contact I32 thereof to reset the portion of the control circuit connected to a conductor I33 connected in series with the contact I32.

Operation Assuming that the pan 25 has just been filled, the ratchet relay 58 has been actuated to close the contact BI and open the contact 58, and the pan 24 is empty so that the switch is closed, and the relay 43 is actuated to close contacts 4'! and 48. Closing the contact 48 actuates the relay 5I to close the contact 52 to the vibrator winding 65 and close the holding contact 53 to the winding of the relay 5|. The periodic actuation of the winding feeds the plastic material along the branch trough I4 to the weigh pan 24. The tare switch 45 then is opened by the material on the pan 24 to drop out the relay 43, and the feeding of the material to the pan 24 is continued until the weigh pan 24 receives an amount sufficient to swing the balance arm 38 (Fig. l).

The switch I0 is closed by this swinging of the arm 30, and actuates the relay 12 to close contacts "I3, 14 and I5. Closing of contact I5 energizes relay winding T6 to open contacts 58 and "i3 and close contact 19. Opening of the contact '58 deenergizes the feeder winding 65 to stop movement of the plastic material along the branch trough I4, and opening of the contact 59 deenergizes the ratchet relay 58, which opens the switch BI, and closes the contact 58 to prepare the branch trough I5 for discharge.

The closing of the contact 19 causes the weigher vibrator winding to be actuated to discharge material from the pan 24, and after the first portion thereof has been removed, the switch It is opened by movement of the balance arm as to prepare the circuit for resetting. The material piles up under the slot I I, andfeeds therepast to the slot I2. While the weigh pan 24 is being emptied, the tare switch is closed. This actuates the relay 43 to close the contact 41 to energize the winding 8| of the time delay relay 82, and after a predetermined period of time, the winding 8| opens contact 83 to reset the circuit and drop out the relay 82. The momentary opening of the contact 83 drops out relays 43, 5:, I2 and TI.

When the contact Iii) is closed, the weigh pan 25 being empty, the switch 95) is closed so that the winding 9| is energized to close the contacts 93 and 94. Closure of the contact 96, the con tact being closed, causes energization of the winding 91, which closes contacts 99, I09 and I iii. Closure of the contact 90! causes energization of the winding 5! of the ratchet relay 58 to cause a reversal of the contacts 60 and GI when the winding 5] is deenergized later. Closure of the contact 99 causes periodic energization of the wind ing I05 associated with the vibrating unit driving the branch trough I5 so that plastic material is fed along the trough I5 from the main trough 8 to the weigh pan 25.v As soon as a slight amount of material is dropped into the empty pan 25, the switch 93 is opened to open the contacts 93 and 94. However, the winding 91 remains energized through the holding contact I530 thereof.

While the pan 25 is being filled, the ratchet relay 5! remains energized so that the vibrating unit 26 of the branch trough I4 cannot be operated, the contact being open. However, as soon as the weigh pan 25 receives the weight of material destined therefor, the switch III] is closed to actuate the relay l I2, which closes contacts H3, H 3 and H5. Closing of the contact us holds the winding III energized and closing of the contact I I5 causes energization of the relay winding m1 of the relay IZI, which opens contacts I08 and I22 and closes the contact I23. Opening of the contact I22 deenergizes the winding 5? of the ratchet relay 58 to cause the contact GI to close and contact 6G to open. Opening of the contact H38 breaks the circuit to the winding I215 to stop feeding plastic material along the trough I5.

When the contact BI is reclosed and the material fills up the slot II and the material is fed through the slot I2, the vibrating unit 58 of the branch trough is is started and begins to fill the 24 while the pan 25 is being emptied. As soon as the pan 25 is empty, the switch 98 is closed and the relay winding 92 is energized to close the switch 93. Since the contact I43 is closed at this time, the winding 30 of the relay lBI is energized, which opens contact I 32 to reset the portion of the circuit connected to the conductor I33 to zero and the cycle described hereinabove is repeater.

The apparatus described hereinabove may be provided with several more branch troughs in addition to the branch troughs l4 and I5 and have selectively operable vibrating units for the branch troughs so that any desired single one or pair of them may be run, the material feeding past the inactive branch troughs to the branch trough in operation. Furthermore, with such a construction, a control circuit similar to that shown in Fig. 5 may be connected selectively to any desired troughs of the branch troughs and balances associated therewith to run two of the branch troughs alternately and leave the rest of the branch troughs dormant. The apparatus may be provided with slots slanting across the bottom of the trough 8, as contrasted with the transverse disposal of the slots II and I2, to spread the material across the troughs, if desired.

The above-described apparatus serves to provide alternate, weighed batches of plastic material to each of the mixers. Thus, by adjusting the balances, as desired, any ratio of delivery to the pigmenting mixers 21 and 28 may be had. The width of the slots II and. I2 should be sufiicient for each slot to handle all the material advanced along the trough 8, and the width of the slot I i should not be greater than that at which the material is pushed completely across the slot when it is filled with material. This width will be controlled by the width of the trough 8, the rate at which material is fed. therealong, the force propelling the material along the trough I; and the size and weight of the particles of the material.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of th invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A conveying apparatus, which comprises channel having a transverse slot in the bottom portion thereof positioned between the ends thereof, means for advancing material continuously from one end of the channel toward the other end of the channel, a branch conveyor positioned directly below the opening in the channel for receiving material therefrom, means operable for conveying material along the branch conveyor away from the slot, weighing means for receiving material from the branch conveyor, weighing means for receiving material from portion of the channel spaced on the opposite side of the slot from the end of the channel from which the material is advanced, and means responsive to the weighing means for operating the branch conveyor-operating means intermittently whereby the material entering the channel is divided between the two weighing means.

2. A conveying apparatus, which comprises a main channel disposed generally horizontally and having an opening in the bottom portion intermediate 0f the ends thereof, said opening tending transversely across said bottom portion, means for advancing material continuously from one end of the channel towards the other end of the channel, a branch channel, means operable for conveying material along the branch channel, said branch channel being positioned directly below the opening in the main channel for receiving material therefrom and arranged so that when the means for conveying material therealong is inoperative the material piles up and bridges the opening to permit material subsequently passing along the main channel to pass thereover, weighing means for receiving material from the branch channel, and means responsive to the weighing means for operating the branch channel conveyor means intermittently, whereby the material entering the main channel is divided into two portions.

3. A conveying apparatus, which comprises a main channel having a plurality of slots extending transversely across the bottom thereof at spaced intervals therealong, vibrating means for advancing material along the main channel, a plurality of branch channels, one branch channel being positioned directly beneath each of the slots in the main channel for receiving material from its associated slot, individual secondary vibrating means associated with each of the branch channels operable to advance material therealong, a plurality of individual weighing devices, one weighing device being positioned at the end of each of the branch channels for receiving material from its associated channel, each of said branch channels being designed so that the material piles up and bridges the slot whenever the associated secondary vibrating means is inoperative, whereby material in the main channel is advanced over said slot, and means actuated by the weighing devices for operating the secondary vibrating means of each of the branch channels alternately to feed material alternately to their respective weighing devices.

4. A conveyor apparatus, which comprises a substantially horizontally disposed main channel having a pair of slots extending transversely across the bottom thereof at spaced intervals therealong, vibrating means for advancing material along the main channel, individual branch channels, one branch channel being positioned directly beneath each of the slots in the main channel for receiving material from its associated slot, individual secondary vibrating means associated with each of the branch channels operable to advance material therealong, individual Weighing devices, 'one weighing device being as sociated with each of the branch channels for receiving material therefrom, each of said branch channels being designed so that material piles up and bridges its associated slot whenever its associated secondary vibrating means is inopera tive, whereby material in the main channel is advanced over said slot, and means actuated by the weighing devices for operating the secondary vibrating means of each of the branch channels alternately to feed material alternately to their respective weighing means, whereby the material advancing along the main channel may be divided into two predetermined portions by weight.

5. A conveyor apparatus, which comprises a substantialy horizontally disposed main channel having a pair of slots extending transversely across the bottom thereof at spaced intervals therealong, vibrating means for advancing mate rial along the main channel, individual branch channels, one branch channel being positioned directly beneath each of the slots in the main channel for receiving material from its associated slot, individual secondary vibrating means associated with each of the branch channels operable to advance material therealong, individual weighing devices, one weighing device being associated with each of the branch channels for receiving material therefrom, each of said branch channels being designed so that the material piles up and bridges its associated slot whenever the associated secondary vibrating means is inoperative, whereby material in the main channel is advanced over said slot, and individual switches associated with each of the weighing devices for controlling the operation of its associated secondary vibrating means, each of said switches being designed to render its associated secondary vibrating means inoperative whenever a predetermined amount of material is received on its associated weighing device and simultaneously initiate the operation of the other secondary vibrating means whereby material is delivered to the other weighing device.

6. A conveyor apparatus, which comprises a substantially horizontally disposed main channel having a pair of slots extending transversely across the bottom thereof at spaced intervals therealong, vibrating means for advancing material along the main channel, individual branch channels, one branch channel being positioned directly beneath each of the slots in the main channel for receiving material from its associated slot, individual secondary vibrating means associated with each of the branch channels operable to advance material therealong, individual weighing devices, one weighing device being associated with each of the branch channels for receiving material therefrom, each of said branch channels being designed so that the material piles ,up and bridges its associated slot whenever the associated secondary vibrating means is inoperative, whereby material in the main channel is advanced over said slot, individual switches associated with each of the weighing devices for controlling the operation of its associated secondary vibrating means, each of said switches being designed to render its associated secondary vibrating means inoperative Whenever a predetermined amount of material is received on its associated weighing device and simultaneously initiate the operation of the other secondary vibrating means whereby material is delivered to the other weighing device, and tertiary vibrating means associated with each of the weighing devices for discharging the predetermined amounts of materials from the Weighing devices.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 8,183 Wright June 24:, 1851 457,321 Kinzer Aug. 4, 1891 1,322,469 Ross Nov. 18, 1919 1,339,486 Stuart May 11, 1929 2,047,713 Simpson July 14, 1933 2,270,083 Rapp Jan. 13, 1942 2,311,747 Gooch Feb. 23, 1943 2,386,717 Sample Oct. 9, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 13,375 Great Britain Feb. 5, 1900 

